PPP legislators battle it out

LAHORE: Two Pakistan People’s Party legislators fought during a PPP parliamentary meeting on Monday, shocking onlookers who tried to intervene.

Minutes before the start of the Punjab budget session, PPP MPA Sajida Mir from Lahore and PPP MPA Fauzia Behram from Chakwal clashed over a minor issue regarding alleged rigging during the general elections.

Both politicians alleged that the other had deviated from the party line on the issue, which instantly turned into a scuffle.

The fight took place in the committee hall of the Punjab Assembly, where PPP members had gathered to attend the parliamentary meeting.

The altercation began when Sajida Mir stated that rigging elections was more common in villages where women, under the influence of local feudals, played an active role in the deception.

Mir also praised Iffat Liaquat, a PML-N MPA from Chakwal, for having strong links with her voters and winning the seat from an area where feudals normally call the shots.

This infuriated Fauzia Behram, an influential landowner from Chakwal. She began to verbally abuse Mir and said she had no knowledge of the political dynamics of Chakwal.

Onlookers stated that Mir asked Behram to avoid using abusive language. Mir also demanded that Behram resign from her seat rather than insult people and deviate from the party line by insulting PPP workers.

PPP leaders present at the spot said Behram left her seat and approached Mir, whom she slapped across the face. In retaliation, Mir hurled a flower pot at Behram, which missed its target and hit a security official instead, injuring him slightly.

Party members tried to intervene, but were unable to prevent the attempt at physical assault from both sides.

Fauzia Behram has served as a member of the Punjab Assembly in 1988, 1990, 2002 and 2008. In 1988 and 1990, she was elected on a general seat and is the senior-most female PPP MPA in the House.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Mir alleged that Behram had threatened that her (Behram’s) driver would kill Mir.

Mir said Behram had physically assaulted her, adding that Behram had a history of changing loyalties, whereas she, Mir, was a loyal PPP worker through and through.

Mir said Behram should be removed from the party immediately.

Behram on the other hand denied all the allegations leveled against her by Mir. She said she had not threatened Mir.

Published in the Express Tribune, June 15^th, 2010.